U.S. patent application number 11/396749 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-26 for radio frequency identification (rfid) in laboratories.
Invention is credited to Charles Schaeffer.
Application Number | 20060239867 11/396749 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37187122 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060239867 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schaeffer; Charles |
October 26, 2006 |
Radio frequency identification (RFID) in laboratories
Abstract
Radio frequency identification (RFID) is used to identify
specimen cassettes for laboratory samples, particularly
pathological laboratory samples. Cassettes include RFID tags that
provide identifying information, such as accession and block
numbers. A method of identifying specimens and specimen cassettes
is also provided.
Inventors: |
Schaeffer; Charles;
(Cincinnati, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROST BROWN TODD, LLC
2200 PNC CENTER
201 E. FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
37187122 |
Appl. No.: |
11/396749 |
Filed: |
April 3, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60667244 |
Apr 1, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
422/400 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01N 1/36 20130101; G01N
2001/315 20130101; B01L 2300/022 20130101; G01N 2035/00782
20130101; B01L 3/545 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
422/102 |
International
Class: |
B01L 9/00 20060101
B01L009/00 |
Claims
1. A specimen cassette comprising a lid, a bottom, and a radio
frequency identification tag.
2. A specimen cassette according to claim 1, wherein the radio
frequency identification tag is a passive radio frequency
identification tag.
3. A method of identifying laboratory specimens comprising the
steps of: providing a specimen cassette with a radio frequency
identification tag; inserting a specimen into said specimen
cassette; providing identifying information about said specimen to
said radio frequency identification tag; processing said specimen;
attaching said specimen to an outer edge of said specimen cassette;
slicing said specimen into a thin layer with a slicing machine;
transmitting said identifying information to a printer;
transferring the sliced thin layer of specimen to a slide; printing
a slide label that contains the identifying information.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of ensuring
that the specimen cassette is not removed from the slicing machine
until the slide label and sliced thin layer of specimen are placed
on the slide.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from provisional
application Ser. No. 60/667,244 filed on Apr. 1, 2005 entitled
"RFID IN LABORATORIES". The present invention relates to a radio
frequency identification (RFID) solution for laboratories that
perform tests on tissues and specimens using slides. More
particularly, it relates to the use of RFID tags on specimen
cassettes.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In many pathological laboratories tissues and specimen
containers are not continuously controlled, specifically these
tissues or specimen containers are not marked with machine-readable
identification. This provides an opportunity for the introduction
of error in properly identifying the tissues.
[0003] In a typical pathological laboratory, technicians must
juggle dozens of requisitions and containers with specimens that
may be identified only with handwritten instructions, patient
information, and long identifying numbers. In a histology
laboratory, for example, blocks are cut from a specimen to be
processed. These specimen blocks are each affixed to a cassette.
The specimens are each given a separate block number, often four
digits in length. Depending on the size of the specimen, there may
be several cassettes. Each cassette must be identified with the
block number for the specimen and an accession number. The typical
accession number can be five or six characters long. It can also
include a prefix to identify the facility with which it is
associated. This facility code may be two or three digits in
length. In addition, a date code, often two digits, is usually
included. As a result, the accession numbers can include 11
characters and each cassette can have a total of 15 characters
associated with it. Technicians must input all of these characters
accurately for each cassette they handle.
[0004] Technicians can be responsible for dozens of cassettes with
specimens ready to be embedded in paraffin, cut on the microtome,
stained and diagnosed. At numerous points along the process, each
of the accession and block numbers needs to be verified and
tracked. In many laboratories, this verification is done manually.
In addition to manually inputting the accession number at least
twice at the grossing station, technicians are required to type
each accession number into a separate computer to print labels for
corresponding slides.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention provides a specimen cassette that
includes an RFID tag to identify the specimen that is being sliced.
The present invention also provides a method of identifying
laboratory specimens comprising the steps of: providing a specimen
cassette with a radio frequency identification tag; inserting a
specimen into said specimen cassette; providing identifying
information about said specimen to said radio frequency
identification tag; processing said specimen; attaching said
specimen to an outer edge of said specimen cassette; slicing said
specimen into a thin layer with a slicing machine; transmitting
said identifying information to a printer; transferring the sliced
thin layer of specimen to a slide printing a slide label that
contains the identifying information
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] FIG. 1 is a top view of a specimen cassette.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a specimen cassette.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a view showing an open specimen cassette.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In a typical laboratory, tissue samples and the accompanying
paper work enter the "grossing" room in various containers. They
are placed into a specimen cassette 10. See FIGS. 1-3. Identifying
data related to this sample or specimen is entered into a computer
initiating printing of human readable characters, or possibly bar
codes in the future, on widely used plastic specimen cassettes to
identify the specimen 20. These cassettes 10 have a lid 30 and are
made with a "screen" type front and back 40 to allow the various
chemicals used to move through the cassette 10 during the
preparation process. This preparation process can includes steps
such as heating or cooling the specimen 20, or treating it with any
number of chemicals, many of them are quite harsh. This subjects
the plastic specimen cassette 10 to extreme conditions, such as
heat, cold, solvents, etc. It is difficult to affix identifying
information to the specimen cassette 10 in such a way that it will
survive the preparation process and still be legible. After this
preparation process, the specimen 20 is typically attached to the
outer surface, typically the bottom surface 60, of the specimen
cassette 10 with hot paraffin. The specimen cassette 10 then
becomes a base with the specimen 20 being attached in such a manner
that it is ready for cutting. The cutting is performed on a machine
(such as a Microtome machine) that slices off a thin layer of the
specimen 20. This thin layer is soften then placed in a bath and
from there it is floated onto a slide. The slide may have been
previously labeled with identifying information, including the
accession and block numbers, or it may be labeled after the
specimen slice is attached to it. It may be labeled with preprinted
labels or labeled by hand with a grease pencil, permanent marker,
etc.
[0010] The present invention provides an RFID specimen cassette 10
and a process of identifying specimen cassettes 10 that ensures the
identifying information on the slide is consistent with the
information related to the specimen 20 in the specimen cassette 10,
among other things.
[0011] The specimen 20 is placed into a specimen cassette 10
containing an RFID tag 50. Specimen cassettes 10 are well-known in
the art and any specimen cassette 10 can be used with the present
invention. The specimen cassettes 10 are typically made of plastic.
As described above, the specimen cassette 10 typically has a top 30
and bottom 60 surface that has a screen 30 in it to allow fluids to
flow over the specimen 20 inside. It is typically a rectangular box
shape, approximately 36 mm long, 28 mm wide, and 6 mm in depth,
although any shape and size may be used. It may include an angled
portion 80 that allows it to be held by the slicing machine. It may
include a recessed area 70 to hold the RFID tag 50.
[0012] RFID tags 50 are also well-known in the art. It is
preferable to choose an RFID tag 50 that is small enough to fit in
or on the specimen cassette 10. The RFID tag 50 allows for
machine-readable verification before and after the "preparation
process" by a variety of available readers, if desired. These
readers are also well-known in the art. Preferably, the RFID tag 50
is a passive RFID tag, rather than an active one, because a passive
tag requires no internal battery and thus is typically smaller than
an active RFID tag. The RFID tag 50 may be attached to the specimen
cassette 10 by any means known in the art, including mechanical
locks or clips or adhesives.
[0013] The RFID tag 50 in or on the specimen cassette 10 contains
the desired identifying information, such as accession and/or block
number. An antenna that can querry the RFID tag 50 is attached to
or placed on or near the slicing machine that cuts the specimen 20
into thin slices. When the specimen cassette 10 is brought to the
slicing machine, the data in the RFID tag 50 is transmitted to the
antenna. The antenna sends the collected information onto a
printer, preferably via computer, that can then print directly onto
slides or onto labels for attachment to the slides. The label in
the desired format matching the particular specimen 20 is printed
as the slide is readied for use while the specimen cassette 10 is
still attached to the slicing machine.
[0014] The process of printing the slide by querying the specimen
20 being cut greatly enhances the ability to correctly mark or
match a particular slide to the proper gross specimen 20. When the
lab procedures allow for only those specimens 20 from the specimen
cassette 10 currently attached to the slicing machine to be present
in the water bath for placement on a slide, this sequence provides
for enhanced security in identification.
[0015] In summary, an RFID tag contained in a plastic specimen
cassette resolves two important issues. First, it provides a
machine readable solution for marking that will withstand the
protocols used in the lab. Secondly, it allows the user to
positively identify a slide by continually identifying the specimen
cassette while the slide is being prepared.
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